Operating device for car couplers



July 18, 1933. G. G. GILPIN 1,918,806

OPERATING DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed April 22, 1931 Inventor Hart/z G. Gil aim giiojzl;

Patented July 18, '1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE GARTH G. GILIPIN, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T UNION METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILIrIITOIlIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE OPERATING DEVICE FOR GAR COUPLERS Appllcatlonfiled April 22,

This invention relates to a device for op eratingarailway car coupler mounted upon the car for lateral and longitudinal movement and having a pivoted knuckle provided with a tail engageable with a knuckle lock "to which such an operating device is connected. The invention relates specifically to a railway car-coupler having an anti-creep feature which is so formed that the lock can be raised to an unlocked position by the operating device, but cannot be raised by the creeping actionof thelocks due to the service movements of the car. Some of such couplers are provided. with a rotatable memher (or rotor) secured to the underside of the coupler head for transmitting operating movements to the lock.

An object. of thewinvention is to provide an operating device for such rotor type coupler with which an operator can rotate the rotor of the coupler from adjacent the side of the car so that he is not required to go between the carswhich is dangerous and hazardous.

Another object is to provide such a device may throw the knuckle lock with one hand i and operate the coupler with the otherhand.

Another object of the invention istoprovide a car coupler operating device which may also be used as acar coupler positioning device; that is, may be used to position the coupler laterally.

Another object is to provide a device having an operating rod which forms the handle '45 of the device and is'so arranged that a mans hand will not slip oil the handle, which is possible in a device having 9. depending handle.

The Interstate Commerce Commission Safety Appliance Acts specify that the devide ahorizon'tal step for trainmenclimbing 1931; vSerial No. 531,940.

pending handle of an operating rod for car coupler shall not exceed fifteen -inches (15) fromthe center ofthe fulcrum to the end of the handle, therefore, the mechanical leverage obtainable by such a handle is the distance from the center of the operators hand to the fulcrum, which is usually about twelve inches (12) However, when an operator grabs the horizontal portion of my device the distance from the center of his hand-to the fulcrum (bracket bearing) is the full fifteen inches (15) and the device complies with the law, therefore, the lever arm has been increased about twenty-five per cent (25%). In other words, with the same amount of force applied my mechanismis twenty-five percent (25%) stronger than the device now in general use.

Another object of the invention is to proup or down the car, which might also be used as a horizontal grab iron for a trainman caught between the cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide such adevice wherein the handle or grab portion thereof is positioned close to the car body so as to reduce the height from i the ground that is necessary for the operator to raise his hand, arm and/or elbow when revolving the operating lever to operate the rotor of the coupler thereby decreasing the danger of his being injured by the oncoming car, and furthermore, increasing his capacity to pull the handle up by putting him in a less awkward position.

In the drawing: i

I Fig. 1 is a plan of a fragmentary part of a car showing the coupler and my improved operating device therefor.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fi 1. i

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the operating rod and the bracket.

The coupler 2, as is customary, is mounted upon the car so as to move'laterally and longitudinally thereof in service. The coupler comprises a rotor 3 arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation thereof, which rotor is usually supported below the coupler head by means integral with the coupler. (A typical coupler of this type is shown in 100 Kinne Patent No. 1,639,300 of August 16, 1927.)

The bracket 6 is mounted upon the car, and in the form illustrated, comprises a substantially horizontal portion 8 or bearing, spaced from the car with arms 9 at its opposite ends forming means for attachment to the car. The operating rod comprises a shank 10 with its inner end operatively connect'ed to the rotor 3 of the coupler'and its outer end bent upwardly to form a substantially upright member 12 slidably supported at its upper end upon the bearing 8 of the bracket 6 so that as the coupler moves laterally in service the operating rod slides back and forth on the horizontal bearing of the bracket. The operating rod, however, does not necessarily have a sliding connection to the bracket.

The shank 10 or horizontal portion of the operating rod is provided with a handle or grab portion 1 1 which is positioned back of a vertical'plane 16 passing through the connection 18 of the operating rod shank 10 to the rotor 3 and the connection 20 of the upright member 12 to-the bracket. The object of positioning this handle 14 behind the defined plane 16' is to reduce the height from the ground towhich the operator mustraise his hand or elbow in operating the device. Any weight behind the defined plane 16 tends to revolve the operating rod and the rotor 3 ofthe coupler in a direction which would unlock the coupler or unlock the anticreep feature of the coupler therefore, I'

preferably position the remainder 22 of the shanklO of the operating rod on'the outside of the defined plane 16 because any weight on the outside of such plane tends to revolve the operating rod and the rotor 3 of the coupler in a direction which would not un-.

lock the coupler or unlock the anti-creep feature. In the preferred form of my inven-v tion'I position the greater part of the shank of the operating rod. on the outside of this plane 16 so as to create a tendency for the force of gravity to retain the device in its normal position. The dash lines show the device when raised in a position to unlock the coupler. p 1

I prefer to form the upright member-of the operating red, as shown in Fig. 2', wherein as much of it as possible is positionedlon the outside of the defined plane 16 so that the weight of the upright member12 has a tendency to return the 3 rod to normal position.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art. c Y

I claim:

1. In a railway car, an operating device for use with a car coupler mounted upon the car to move laterally in service and having a rotor mounted upon the coupler arranged to opcrate the coupler upon rotation thereof, said device comprising a bracket mounted upon the car provided with a bearing, and an operating rod consisting of a shank operatively connected to the rotor at. its inner end and having its outer end bent upwardly to form a substantially upright member supported at its upper end by said bracket, said shank having a handle portion located back of a vertical plane passing through the connections of the operating rod to the rotor and bracket, respectively, the major portion of said shank being positioned in front of said plane whereby the force of gravity tends to rotate the operating rod in a direction which would not unlock the coupler.

2. In a railway car, an operating device for use with a car coupler mounted upon the car to move laterally in service and having a rotor'mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation thereof, said device comprising a bracket mounted upon thecarprovided with a bearing, and an operating rod consisting of a shank operatively connected to the rotor at its inner end and having its outer end bent upwardly to form a substantially upright member supported'at its upper end by said'bracket, said shank having a handle portion adjacent said upright member and located back of a vertical plane passing through the connections of the operating rod to the rotor and bracket, respectively, the major portion of said shank being positioned in front of said plane wherebytheforce of gravity tends to rotate the operating rod in a direction which would not unlock the coupler. 1 1

3. In a railway car, an operating device for use with a car coupler mounted upon the car to move laterally in service and having a rotor mounted upon the coupler arranged to operate the coupler upon rotation thereof, said device comprising a bracket mounted upon the car provided with a bearing, and an operating rod consisting of a shank operatively connected to the rotor at its inner end and having its outer end bent upwardly to form a substantially upright member slidably supported at its upper end by said bracket, said shank having a handle portion located back of: a vertical plane passing through the connections of the operating rod to the rotor and bracket, respectively, the major portion of said shank being positioned in front. of said plane whereby the force of gravity tends to rotate the operating rod in a direction which would not unlock the coupler.

. V GARTH G. GILPIN. 

